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Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP11602) and 4 other sources
In the summer of 1999, a young man named Robert King Costello, Jr., known affectionately to his loved ones as 'Bobby' or 'Little Bobby,' vanished from St. Louis, Missouri. He was 23 years old at the time of his disappearance, a Black / African American male standing approximately 6'1' to 6'2' and weighing between 195 and 220 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. The last confirmed sighting of Robert was on July 1, 1999. After that day, his family and friends never heard from him again, leaving a void filled with unanswered questions and heartache. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear, with very few details available to the public. The official report of his disappearance wasn't filed until several months later, on February 8, 2000, with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

The years that followed have been marked by a painful search for answers by Robert's family. His case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System under case number MP11602. Despite the passage of time, his family has continued to hold out hope for any information that might lead to his safe return or provide some form of closure. The emotional toll on his family has been immense, as they have missed him dearly since he went missing. Law enforcement agencies, including the St. Louis Metropolitan Police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, have maintained his case as an active missing person investigation.

The investigation into Robert's disappearance has yielded very little public information over the decades. The lack of significant leads has left his case cold, a source of ongoing pain for those who knew and loved him. His case is a somber reminder of the many individuals who disappear each year, leaving behind families to grapple with the uncertainty and sorrow of not knowing what happened to their loved one. The overview of this case is one of a young man who vanished without a trace, and a family left to navigate a world without him, perpetually hoping for the day they will find answers.

Last Seen: Jul 1, 1999

Possible Unidentified Matches (2)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

75%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP129335 • Found Aug 14, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 47%275 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'1"
Weight 100%176 lb vs 195–220 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Lemont, Illinois
UP8488 • Found Jan 27, 2010
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 21–35 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 50%247 mi away
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'1"
Weight 100%200 lb vs 195–220 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.